Base for portable houses



Aug. 27, 1940; w. B. STOUT BASE FOR PORTABLE HOUSES' Filed July 30, 19372 Sheets-Sheet l illiiawlwi m Zz'am ,B.5iazz2 Aug. 27, 1940. w, STOUT?,2l2,757v

BASE FOR PORTABLE HOU'SES Filed July 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORH W 47 5550x12 7 TTORNE rs,

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFF E] I. 2,212,757, Q i vMichigan Application Julyso, 1937, seiiiu No. 156,555 aeleim (01.72-17)This invention relates-to bases or supportingstructures for eXpa-nsibletrailers.- More particularly it relates to a permanently mounted baseconstruction primarily designed for the purpose;

of providing a rigid' mounting for trailers'of the generic typedisclosed in applicants pri or copending applications, Serial Nos.-49,463 and 115,180, assigned to the assigneeof the present invention.

- In order to obtain a better'understanding'of the nature and generalobject of the present invention, reference may be had to these priorcopending applications. v

7 It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rigidsupporting base for structures of this general character which includesnovel means for accurately positioning the road Wheels of the trailerstructure with respect to the base in order that when the-structure isexpanded or unfolded, the base may be utilized to support the buildingstructure in level predetermined adjusted position. 7 g The presentinvention contemplates the provision of a. plurality of short upwardlyextending rigidly mounted supports which are adapted'to engage the underside of the building structure at various strategic points in order toprovide a strong rigid support for the same and, in addition, means areprovided for obtaining access to tires thereof may be deflated in orderto'firmly seat the building structure on the supports. Yet anotherobject of the present invention to provide a base for trailers of thisgeneric type 351 in-which channels or runways are provided for receivingthe r'oad wheels of the trailer, which channels are so disposed and soconstructed that they serve'to provide means for accurately posi timingthe building structure with respect to the base prior to the unfoldingof the same.

Still further, the present invention contemplates the provision of asubstantial base construction which, if desired, may beconstructed insuch a manner as to provide a cellar or basement which may beusedjforjstorage purposesin the event that the building structure isused for living quarters duringa protracted period. Many other andfurther objects, advantages,

and features of the present invention will become more clearly apparentfrom a consideration of the following specification in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. In the drawings: i iFigure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of'the present invention.a

.10 the road wheelsof the vehiclefin order that'the Fig: 2 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially on theline'r -Z of Fig. 1illustrating in detail-thecross sectional configuration of I thestructure shown in Fig. '1. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional 5" viewtaken substantiallyon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating in further detail theconstruction of the improved base structure. r v

"Fig.4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig.' 3,'illustratingthe base structure with an expansi blebuilding disposed in-unfoldedcondi--* tion thereon. I

' Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention,particularly adaptable toinstallations where a maximum of insulation i5desired. 1

Fig. 6 is 'a still further modified View of the invention which has thesame generic features as that disclosedin the preferred form of theinven-- tion illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, but whichis 20 considerablysimpler in construction.

Fig. '7 illustrates a modified form of structure which maybe utilized inconnection with any of the foregoing forms of the invention to take theweight off the wheels of the vehicle when it is mounted in position uponthe support.

A's-will be apparent by reference to the prior c'o-pending applicationsreferred to above, the specific 'form ofbase structure illustrated inthedrawings-and described below is primarily designed for supportingexpansible building structures of the generic type shown in elevation inFig.4. Building structures of this generic type include a main orcentral section 5 which is supported'for transportation on a pairof'road wheels 6 and which has associated therewith foldable walls whichmay be unfolded to substantially the" positions shown in Fig. 4 when thebuilding structure-is "stationary to provide reinforced side wallsectionsforthe' central portion of the building 40 structure when thesame is transported from place to place.

The improved'base construction disclosed in the drawings includes agenerally rectangular structure formed of reinforced concrete or other45; suitable material and in the form shown, has a floor "l, sidewalls8, and walls 9. The top is preferably closed by a substantiallyhorizontal reinforced concrete roof l0 having a plurality of upwardlyextending supporting posts ll adapted 9y to engagethe-corners of thecentralsection 5 of the building structure when the same is mountedinposition thereon.; g I

Adjacent the. corners of the surface structure tflof the base are, inaddition, provided a plu-, ,5;

rality of posts 12 which are adapted to engage and support the outercorners of the floor section of the building structure when the same isin unfolded condition. The structure as a whole forms a hollow room-likebasement or cellar immediately beneath the building structure which itserves to support and convenient access to this basement or cellar maybe had by means of a series of steps I3 and a doorway opening [4. Theupper surface of the supporting base has a pair of parallel wheelreceiving channels I5 therein which extend from one side of the surfaceto apointsubstantially in the central portion of the upper surface ofthe base structure. These channels become substantially deeper adjacenttheir rear ends to provide wheel receiving recesses l6 which serve toretain the building structure in adjusted position upon the basestructure.

A suitable opening I! is provided through the surface of the basestructure between the wheel receiving recesses: H5 in order that accessfrom the cellar may be had to the road wheels ot the trail.- erstructure in order todeflate the tires: thereof and provide properseating or the structure upon the base.

In use of the device, an expansible portable building constructioninfolded condition may be rolled into position upon the supporting base,the: wheels of the building structure entering the channels 15: and.rolling rearwardly until they become seated in. the wheel receivingrecesses- Hi. The building may then be unfolded to expanded conditionand the-parts thereof are then: occupying. the positions shown thedotted lines in Fig. 3. Access tov the road wheels. may then be hadthrough the opening I? from the cellar of the. base structure and thetires of the road wheels may be deflated through lowering the entirebuilding structure on tothe supporting; postsi l: and- 2 where: it willbe rigidly seated and, displacement. thereof will be virtuallyprecluded. This sup porting base provides an exceptionally strongpermanent mounting for the portable building con.- struction when it isdesired tolocate the same in a. predetermined location for a relativelylong length of time and it will be seen that the cellar beneath thesupporting surface of the base structure will serve to provideconvenient means for storing articles during the time the buildingstructure isdisposed on; the base. A coping; wall- 20 may surround theportion. of thebase. structure adjacent the wheel receiving channels in.order to preclude the'entrance of moisture to the cellar through theopening H. It will be further appreciated that the floor of the buildingis. located. in slightly spaced relation with. respect to. the: uppersurface of the supporting structure in. order to provide properventilation beneath the building; and yet. at the same. time to provideastrong rigid mounting. for the trailer structure...

While the above described form of the invention will find wide,practical utility in certain installations, it hasbeen. found. desirableto. provide in some cases a. support structure which. will obtain.substantially equivalentresults' and yet.- at the same time be-somewhatcheaper to construct. With this end. in view, Figures: 5 and 6 of the.drawings illustrate modified. forms of the base structure illustrated inFigures 1 to- 4, inclusive,- which modified: forms of base.- structures.have substantiall-y' the same general features but depart: slightly inthe specific form of construction.

It will readily be appreciated that in the-form of the" inventionillustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inelusive; relatively widely separatedsupporting posts have been used for the purpose of supporting thefoldable portions as well as the central portion of the collapsiblebuilding structure when the same is mounted upon the support. This formof supporting base is particularly desirable for utilization during thesummertime when a maximum of ventilation is desired underneath the floorof the vehicle, in order to maintain the interior temperature thereof ascool as possible. However, in certain installations, it may be desirableto provide a support of the type illustrated in. Figure 5, which isprimarily adapted for use during cold weather and which contemplates theuseof a retaining wall or foundation structure for supporting thefoldable portions of the collapsible building structure in such mannerthat the space underneath the floor of the vehicle is completelyenclosed when the same is in unfolded condition and thereby providesinsulation for the floor of the vehicle which may aid in maintaining thevehicle warm inside.

To accomplish this end, and at the same time to provide a somewhatsimpler supporting base structure, a construction substantially as shownin Figure 5 may be used, which supporting base may, as has beendescribed above, be formed of reinforcing concrete, and includes a pairof. wheel receiving. channels 30- spaced apart in accordance with thespacing of the wheels of the portable building. structure to besupported. Adjacent their rear ends, these. channels are provided withdepressions 3.I- which are adapted to accurately position the vehicleupon the support and prevent longitudinal movement thereof once thevehicle hasbe'en seated in. position, A foundation or retaining wall.3-2 is cooperatively positioned with respect tothe wheel receivingchannels 30 so that as the expansible portions of the building areunfolded, this retaining wall will serve to support them and enclose theair space immediately beneath the floor ofv the expansible building.construction. If desired, a well 33 may be formed between the wheelreceiving. channels, access to which may be had. by means of a stairway34 in order that. when the expansible building structure is-disposedupon the support for a substantial length of time, access to thesupporting wheels of the vehicle may be had in order to deflate thetires, as has been described. above in connection with the preferredembodiment of the invention.

In Figure 6 is illustrated a form of the invention which isvery similarin many respects to that illustrated in Figure 5 and which includeswheel receiving, channels 30 having recesses 3| at their inner endsvand. the same form a. well 33 between these wheel receiving channels,access to which may be hadby means ofthe stair 34. In this format theinvention. the supporting. or retaining wall is dispensed with and aplurality of posts 35 may be placed. directly in. the earth adjacent toand cooperatively positioned with respect to the wheel receiving.channels 3|, which. posts may be utilized for the purpose of. supportingthe foldable portions of. the building. structure when the same is in.unfolded. condition. This form of the invention has substantially thesame generic features as the-preferredformofthe invention illus-'tratedin Figurestll to- 4 of the drawings, except that it isconsiderably simpler and cheaper to construct and: does not. provide asmuch storagespace underneath the: building structure.

In Figure: 7 is illustrated a featurewhich may be used in connectionwith any ofthe above described. forms of the invention and whichrmay beutilized in order that it will be unnecessary to prises the provision ofa cam surface 31 which may serve to elevate the aXle of the vehicle asthe same is backed into position upon the supporting base, whereby thetires of the vehicle will beraised from the ground, thus taking the loadoff the tires of the vehicle and rendering deflation of the tiresunnecessary. It will be readily appreciated that this expedient may beused in connection with any of the foregoing forms of the invention, asmay be desired.

Several specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein particularly designed and adapted for supporting adefinite given type of expansible building structure, such as has beendescribed in prior copending applications referred to above. Manymodifications of the structure disclosed, which may be utilized for thepurpose of supporting buildings of the various and different types, willbe apparent to those skilled in the art and are included in the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A base structure for supporting portable buildings including incombination a relatively rigid enclosed housing having an upper surfacesubstantially the size of the building to be supported, posts extendingupwardly from said upper surface adapted to engage a portable buildingdisposed thereon, and wheel receiving channels in said upper surfaceadapted to guide the wheels of said portable building into predeterminedposition with respect to said posts, said wheel receiving channels beingsubstantially deeper adjacent the rear ends in order to accuratelyposition said portable building structure with respect to said posts.

2. A base structure for supporting portable buildings including incombination a relatively rigid enclosed housing having an upper surfacesubstantially the size of the building to be supported, posts extendingupwardly from said upper surface adapted to engage a portable buildingdisposed thereon, wheel receiving channels in said upper surfaceadapt-ed to guide the wheels of said portable building intopredetermined position with respect to said posts, wheel receivingrecesses in said channels and an opening through the upper surface ofsaid base structure adjacent said wheel receiving recesses providingaccess thereto.

3'. A base for supporting vehicular building structures including incombination a substantially rectangular housing, wheel guiding channelsin the upper surface of said housing, wheel receiving recesses in theend of said channels, upwardly extending supporting means adapted toengage the under side of said building structure, means at one of thesides of said housing to obtain access to the interior thereof, and anopening through the upper surface of said housing providing access fromthe interior thereof to said wheel receiving recesses.

WILLIAM B. STOUT.

